WO2010106944A1

WO2010106944A1 - Transfer means, drug dispensing system, and drug dispensing device

Info

Publication number: WO2010106944A1
Application number: PCT/JP2010/053945
Authority: WO
Inventors: 仲治竹田; 康之森田
Original assignee: 株式会社湯山製作所
Priority date: 2009-03-16
Filing date: 2010-03-10
Publication date: 2010-09-23
Also published as: JPWO2010106944A1; JP5569813B2

Abstract

Provided is a drug dispensing system with which a drug rarely bounces, turns, and the like on the drug dispensing device side, which is a subunit of the system. Also provided is a drug dispensing device, which is used as a subunit of this type of drug dispensing system. A transfer device (50) has a drug receptacle (80) for receiving a drug on the subunit side, and is capable of transferring, toward the main unit side, a drug that has been introduced to the drug receptacle (80). A flexible inlet member (90) is disposed at a drug introduction port (82) of the drug receptacle (80), and is supported so as to bend under the impact of a drug that falls when released from a substorage part. Therefore, when a drug falls, the impact of the fall is softened by the bending of the inlet member (90) and bouncing of the drug is thereby prevented.

Description

Transfer means, medicine dispensing system, and medicine dispensing apparatus

The present invention relates to a medicine dispensing system configured by adding subunits to a main unit, and a medicine dispensing apparatus for the subunit.

Conventionally, a medicine dispensing device as disclosed in Patent Document 1 below has been provided. The medicine dispensing device according to the prior art has a storage part for storing a plurality of kinds of medicines, and the medicine taken out from the storage part according to the prescription can be packaged out. *

Here, the medicine dispensing device as in Patent Document 1 below is capable of storing a plurality of types of medicines in the storage section. However, along with an increase in the types of drugs to be handled, there are cases where it is necessary to handle drugs that are more than the types of drugs that can be stored in the reservoir. In such a case, a plurality of prior art medicine dispensing devices may be provided, but in this case, there is a problem that the medicine is packaged differently for each medicine dispensing device. In addition, when a plurality of medicine dispensing devices are provided, there is a problem that a larger installation area is required, and maintenance is required. *

Therefore, in order to solve such a problem, the present inventors have transferred between a medicine dispensing device as a main unit having a medicine packaging function and a medicine dispensing device as a subunit having a medicine dispensing function. A medicine dispensing system that can transfer the medicine dispensed from the subunit side to the main unit side by using a means was manufactured. As a result, it has been found that medicines that have conventionally been in different packaging can be packaged together, and the installation space and maintenance labor of the medicine dispensing apparatus can be minimized.

JP 2001-276183 A

As described above, when a medicine dispensing system is constructed by connecting a medicine dispensing apparatus that functions as a main unit and a medicine dispensing apparatus that functions as a subunit, the medicine dispensed on the subunit side It was supposed to be transported and packaged. Therefore, in the medicine dispensing system described above, how to stabilize and shorten the time required to transfer the medicine from the sub-unit side to the main unit side can improve the stable processing capability of the whole medicine dispensing system. It was an important issue. *

Here, as a result of further studies by the present inventors from such a viewpoint, the medicine dispensed on the subunit side does not smoothly enter the transfer means due to the bouncing or turning, and this causes the subunit from the subunit side. It has been found that problems such as delay in drug transfer to the main unit and uneven drug transfer speed may occur. *

Specifically, when the medicine is transferred from the subunit toward the main unit, the medicine is transferred after the medicine has surely entered in a container or the like provided on the subunit side. For this reason, in the prior art, the amount of drug splash caused by falling is managed using, for example, an index referred to as a bounce coefficient, and the drug dispensing timing is adjusted. However, if the surface (container) that receives the dropped drug is in a state where it is easy for the drug to bounce, this effect tends to increase the time it takes for the drug to bounce, and the amount of splash tends to vary. It was in. Therefore, in the medicine dispensing system, in order to stabilize or shorten the time required to transfer the medicine from the sub-unit side to the main unit side, it is possible to suppress the medicine splash or to suppress the variation in the degree of splash. A configuration that can be used has been required to stabilize and improve the processing capacity. *

Moreover, the swirling of the drug did not have a law property. For this reason, there is a problem that even if an effect due to the swirling of the medicine is taken into account, this cannot be managed by an index such as the above-described splash coefficient. Therefore, in order to stabilize and improve the processing capacity of the medicine dispensing system, it is necessary to have a configuration that can suppress the swirling of the medicine discharged on the subunit side as much as possible. *

Therefore, the present invention has an object to provide a medicine dispensing system in which the medicine is unlikely to be splashed or rotated on the medicine dispensing apparatus side forming a subunit, and a medicine dispensing apparatus for a subunit constituting such a medicine dispensing system. did.

The transfer means of the present invention provided to solve the above-described problem has a medicine receiving portion and a conduit connected to the medicine receiving portion, and the medicine introduced into the medicine receiving portion is passed through the conduit. It is capable of being transferred, and an inlet member having flexibility is provided at the entrance of the medicine receiving portion, and a funnel-shaped medicine input path is formed in the medicine receiving portion, The inlet member is attached so as to cover the medicine charging path, and a gap is formed between the inlet member and a surface forming the medicine charging path, and the drug that has been discharged and dropped. Is introduced into the medicine receiving part after colliding with the inlet member. *

Moreover, it is preferable that the transfer means of the present invention is capable of transferring the drug introduced into the drug receiving part through the conduit by suction or pressure feeding. *

In the transfer means of the present invention, the inlet member has an upper end opening portion provided on the upper end side, and a lower end opening portion provided on the lower end side, from the upper end opening portion side toward the lower end opening portion side. It is desirable that the inner region of the inlet member is reduced, and a protruding portion that protrudes toward the inside of the inlet member is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the inlet member. *

It is preferable that the transfer means of the present invention is constituted by a rib extending from the upper end side opening portion side toward the lower end side opening portion side. *

The medicine dispensing system of the present invention provided to solve the above-mentioned problem is directed to a packaging part capable of packaging medicine, the transfer means described above, and a medicine stored in advance toward the packaging part in accordance with the prescription. And a medicine that has been discharged and dropped from the storage section collides with an inlet member provided at an inlet of a medicine receiving section that constitutes the transfer means, and then enters the medicine receiving section. It is characterized by being introduced. *

The medicine dispensing system of the present invention includes a main unit and one or a plurality of subunits, and is configured by connecting the main unit and the subunits with the transfer means described above. The main unit has a packaging part capable of packaging medicine and a storage part capable of discharging the medicine stored in advance toward the packaging part in accordance with the prescription, and the subunit is stored in advance. A sub-reservoir that can discharge the medicine to the transfer means according to the prescription, and the medicine that has been discharged from the sub-reservoir and dropped is provided at the entrance of the medicine receiving part that constitutes the transfer means It may be characterized by being introduced into the medicine receiving part after colliding with the inlet member formed. *

The medicine dispensing system of the present invention includes a main unit and one or a plurality of subunits, and is configured by connecting the main unit and the subunits with a transfer unit. In the medicine dispensing system of the present invention, the main unit has a packaging part capable of packaging medicine, and a main storage part capable of discharging medicine stored in advance toward the packaging part in accordance with the prescription. The sub-unit has a sub-reservoir that can discharge a pre-stored drug toward the transfer means in accordance with the prescription, and the transfer means has a drug receiving section and is introduced into the drug receiving section The transferred medicine can be transferred toward the main unit side. In the medicine dispensing system of the present invention, a flexible inlet member is provided at the inlet of the medicine receiving portion, and after the medicine discharged and dropped from the sub-reservoir collides with the inlet member, It is characterized in that it is introduced into a medicine receiving part. *

In the medicine dispensing system of the present invention, a funnel-shaped medicine input path connected to the internal space from the entrance of the medicine receiving section may be formed in the medicine receiving section. In the case of adopting such a configuration, it is desirable that the inlet member is attached so as to cover the medicine charging path, and a gap is formed between the inlet member and the surface forming the medicine charging path. . *

In the medicine dispensing system of the present invention, the transfer means has a conduit connecting between the medicine receiving section and the medicine dispensing section provided in the main unit, and sucks or pumps the medicine introduced into the medicine receiving section. By doing so, it may be possible to move the medicine to the main unit side through the conduit. *

In the medicine dispensing system of the present invention, the inlet member has an upper end opening portion provided on the upper end side, and a lower end opening portion provided on the lower end side, from the upper end opening portion side toward the lower end opening portion side. It is preferable that the inner region of the inlet member is reduced, and a protruding portion that protrudes toward the inner side of the inlet member is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the inlet member. Further, in such a configuration, it is desirable that the lower end opening portion and the upper end opening portion are in a positional relationship that is eccentric in a predetermined eccentric direction, and the protruding portion is configured by a rib that extends in the eccentric direction. . *

The medicine dispensing apparatus of the present invention has a main unit capable of discharging a prestored medicine in accordance with a prescription and one or a plurality of subunits capable of discharging a prestored medicine in accordance with the prescription. A medicine dispensing device for a subunit for constructing a medicine dispensing system for transporting, packaging, and dispensing the medicine discharged in the main unit and the subunit to the main unit, and having the above-described transportation device. The medicine discharged from the sub-reservoir can be transported toward the main unit and the medicine can be transferred. *

The medicine dispensing apparatus of the present invention has a main unit capable of discharging a prestored medicine in accordance with a prescription and one or a plurality of subunits capable of discharging a prestored medicine in accordance with the prescription. The medicine discharged from the main unit and the subunit is transferred to the main unit side, packaged, and used for the subunit when constructing a medicine dispensing system for dispensing. The medicine dispensing device of the present invention has a transfer means for transferring the medicine toward the main unit. This transfer means has a drug receiving part, and can store the drug discharged on the subunit side in the drug receiving part and transfer it toward the main unit side. In addition, a flexible inlet member is provided at the inlet of the medicine receiving portion, and after the medicine discharged from the sub-reservoir collides with the inlet member, it is introduced into the medicine receiving portion. Is done.

As described above, in the medicine dispensing system of the present invention, the flexible entrance member is provided at the entrance of the medicine receiving portion provided in the transfer means for transferring the medicine discharged on the subunit side to the main unit side. It has been. In the medicine dispensing system of the present invention, when the medicine is discharged from the sub-reservoir on the subunit side and falls, the medicine collides with the inlet member and then is introduced into the medicine receiving section. Since it has flexibility, it is possible to absorb and alleviate some of the drop impact acting on the medicine by bending the inlet member. For this reason, in the medicine dispensing system of the present invention, the medicine discharged from the sub-reservoir is smoothly introduced into the medicine receiving part without greatly jumping and then sent to the main unit side. Further, by adopting the configuration as described above, it is possible to suppress variation in the degree of splashing of the medicine discharged from the sub-reservoir, and to eliminate variation in time required for transferring the medicine discharged from the sub-reservoir. It becomes possible. Therefore, in the medicine dispensing system of the present invention, the delivery of medicine to the transfer means on the subunit side is smooth, and the medicine can be quickly and stably transferred from the subunit side to the main unit side. . *

In the medicine dispensing system of the present invention, when a funnel-shaped medicine input path that leads from the entrance of the medicine receiving section to the internal space is formed, the medicine discharged from the sub-storage section is received with a wide opening area, and this medicine is smoothly received. It is possible to guide to the internal space of the medicine receiving part. In addition to the funnel shape of the medicine charging path as described above, an inlet member is attached to the medicine charging path so that a gap is formed between the inlet member and the surface forming the medicine charging path. With the formed configuration, when the medicine discharged from the sub-reservoir collides with the inlet member, the inlet member can be bent by the gap formed between them. Therefore, even when such a configuration is adopted, the transfer of the drug can be reduced by mitigating the drop impact acting on the drug discharged from the sub-reservoir, causing the drug to bounce greatly, or the amount of drug bounce to vary. Can be prevented from being delayed or the transfer time becoming unstable. *

The inlet member described above has an upper end opening portion provided on the upper end side and a lower end opening portion provided on the lower end side, and the opening cross-sectional area is reduced from the upper end opening portion side toward the lower end opening portion side. In the case of the cylindrical member, the medicine discharged from the sub-storage part passes through the inlet member and is introduced into the medicine receiving part. Here, in the case where the inlet member is cylindrical in this way, the medicine swirls along the inner peripheral surface of the inlet member, and there is a possibility that the passing speed of the medicine through the inlet member is lowered accordingly. Therefore, in order to more rapidly deliver the discharged medicine on the subunit side, it is desirable to have a configuration that can prevent the swirling of the medicine in the inlet member as described above. *

Therefore, based on such knowledge, in the present invention, when the inlet member has a cylindrical configuration as described above, a protruding portion that protrudes inward is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the inlet member. With such a configuration, even if the medicine that has fallen toward the inlet member tries to swivel along the inner peripheral surface of the inlet member, it cannot be swung by the protruding portion, and the medicine is directed toward the lower end opening portion. Will be guided smoothly. Therefore, if the protrusion as described above is provided on the inlet member, it becomes possible to more rapidly deliver the medicine discharged on the subunit side. *

In the case where the inlet member has a cylindrical shape as described above, when the lower end open portion and the upper end open portion are in a positional relationship that is eccentric in a predetermined eccentric direction, the medicine that has entered the inlet member from the upper end open portion side It is desirable that the can be smoothly guided to the lower end opening. Further, when the above-described protruding portion is decentered with respect to the upper end open portion, the lower end open portion is assumed to flow in the direction of the eccentricity. If the part is provided, the flow of the medicine may be hindered or the medicine may be clogged. Based on these knowledge, in this invention, the protrusion part is comprised by the rib extended in the eccentric direction of an upper end open part and a lower end open part. By setting it as such a structure, the chemical | medical agent which entered from the upper end open part of the inlet member will be guided to a protrusion part, will flow smoothly to a lower end open part side, and is smoothly introduce | transduced in a chemical | medical agent receiving part. *

In the medicine dispensing system of the present invention, the transfer means has a conduit connecting the medicine receiving section and the medicine dispensing section provided in the main unit, and sucks or pumps the medicine introduced into the medicine receiving section. Thus, if the medicine can be moved to the main unit side through the conduit, the medicine discharged on the subunit side can be smoothly transferred to the main unit side. Further, if the protrusion is provided on the inlet member as described above, even if the medicine tries to turn due to the influence of the air flow generated by the operation of the transfer means, it can be stopped by the protrusion. *

In the medicine dispensing apparatus according to the present invention, a flexible inlet member is provided at the inlet of the medicine receiving portion constituting the transfer means, and the medicine that has been discharged from the sub-reservoir and dropped collides with the inlet member. . In the medicine dispensing device according to the present invention, since the inlet member has flexibility, the inlet member bends when the medicine falls, and the drop impact acting on the medicine is alleviated. Therefore, in the medicine dispensing device of the present invention, it is possible to minimize the splashing of the medicine discharged from the sub-reservoir, and smoothly introduce the medicine into the medicine receiving section and send it to the main unit side. Therefore, if the medicine dispensing apparatus of the present invention is used as a subunit, it is possible to quickly transport medicine from the subunit side to the main unit side.

1 is a perspective view showing a medicine dispensing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a front view which shows typically the internal structure of the chemical | medical agent delivery system shown in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the transfer means employ | adopted in the chemical | medical agent delivery system of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which showed typically the apparatus structure of the transfer means shown in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the state which expanded the chemical | medical agent delivery part vicinity of the transfer means shown in FIG. 3, and removed the lid | cover of the exterior container. It is a top view which shows the state which expanded the chemical | medical agent delivery part vicinity of the transfer means shown in FIG. 3, and removed the lid | cover of the exterior container. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which fractured | ruptured the structure of the medicine delivery part vicinity of the transfer means shown in FIG. 3 in the surface along the side surface of a delivery container. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which fractured | ruptured the structure of the medicine delivery part vicinity of the transfer means shown in FIG. 3 in the surface along the top | upper surface of a delivery container. It is a front view which shows the chemical | medical agent acceptance part of the transfer means shown in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the chemical | medical agent acceptance part of the transfer means shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the chemical | medical agent acceptance part of the transfer means shown in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows an inlet_port | entrance member.

Next, the medicine dispensing system 10 and the subunit 30 (medicine dispensing apparatus) according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the medicine dispensing system 10 includes a main unit 20 and a subunit 30. The main unit 20 forms the basis of the medicine dispensing system 10. The subunit 30 is used accompanying the main unit 20. As shown in FIG. 2, the medicine dispensing system 10 includes a transfer unit 50 that operates between the main unit 20 and the subunit 30. In the medicine dispensing system 10 of the present embodiment, the transfer means 50 is incorporated in the subunit 30, and is attached so as to bridge both when the subunit 30 is added to the main unit 20. The medicine dispensing system 10 can transport the medicine dispensed on the subunit 30 side toward the main unit 20 side by the transfer means 50 and package it together with the medicine dispensed on the main unit 20 side. . *

More specifically, the main unit 20 includes a main storage part 22 that can discharge a medicine stored in advance according to the prescription, and a packaging part 24 that can wrap the medicine. In addition, a medicine standby unit 26 and a drug preparation unit 28 are provided below the main storage unit 22. The medicine standby unit 26 has a function of collecting the medicines for one prescription discharged from the main storage unit 22 and discharging them downward. Further, the medicine preparation unit 28 can input the medicine discharged from the medicine waiting unit 26 via the hopper 27. The drug preparation unit 28 is a part that prepares a drug divided into prescriptions in preparation for packaging in the packaging unit 24. When the prepared medicine 28 is packaged, the medicine preparation section 28 can discharge the prescription one by one toward the packaging section 24. *

The sub unit 30 includes a transfer unit 50 in addition to the sub storage unit 32 and the sub drug waiting unit 34. Similarly to the main storage unit 22 provided in the main unit 20, the sub storage unit 32 can discharge the medicine stored in advance toward the transfer means 50 side (downward side) according to the prescription. The sub-drug standby unit 34 has a function of temporarily storing the drug discharged from the sub-storage unit 32 and discharging it one by one prescription. The medicine discharged from the sub medicine waiting part 34 is supplied to the transfer means 50 through the hopper 36 provided below this. *

The transfer means 50 is for connecting the main unit 20 and the subunit 30 and transferring the medicine discharged on the subunit 30 side to the main unit 20 side. As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the transfer means 50 includes an outgoing conduit 52, a blower 54 (airflow generating means), a medicine dispensing section 60 (delivery section), and a medicine receiving section 80. The transfer means 50 can transport the medicine by the air flow generated in the forward conduit 52 by operating the blower 54. More specifically, in the transfer means 50, the forward conduit 52 is constituted by a pipe that connects the main reservoir 20 and the sub reservoir 32. The blower 54 is provided in the forward duct 52 so as to be able to generate an air flow from the subunit 30 side to the main unit 20 side. *

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 8, the medicine dispensing unit 60 has a structure in which a delivery container 62 is accommodated in a box-shaped outer container 70, and a forward conduit 52 is connected to the delivery container 62. Has been. The delivery container 62 is a hollow box-shaped member surrounded on all sides by side surfaces 62a to 62d, and includes a shutter 64 and a buffer means 63 inside. The delivery container 62 is configured by combining an upper container structure 66 and a lower container structure 68 vertically. The delivery container 62 can remove the upper container structural body 66 located on the upper side from the lower container structural body 68 as necessary, and perform internal cleaning or the like. *

As shown in FIG. 7, the upper container structure 66 is a hollow member that constitutes the upper part of the delivery container 62. Further, the upper container structure 66 is open at the bottom portion connected to the lower container structure 68. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the upper container component 66 is configured such that the outgoing pipe 52 is connected via a connecting pipe 72 to a surface constituting the side surface 62 a in the assembled state of the delivery container 62. The connection pipe 72 is configured by a pipe having flexibility more than the forward pipe 502, such as a rubber pipe. *

Further, a buffer means 63 is attached to the upper container structure 66. The buffer means 63 is constituted by, for example, an elastic material such as rubber attached or coated on the surface of the plate member, or a rubber plate itself having elasticity. The buffer means 63 is attached so as to face the side surface 62a to which the forward conduit 52 is connected in the upper container constituting body 66. Specifically, the buffering means 63 is attached in a posture inclined downward across the side surface 62d and the top surface 62e. *

As shown in FIGS. 5, 7, 8, etc., in the upper container constituting body 66, it intersects (substantially orthogonal in this embodiment) to the surface (side surface 62 a) to which the forward conduit 52 is connected, and the delivery container A number of exhaust holes 66p are provided on the surfaces constituting the side surfaces 62b and 62c in the assembled state of 62. Here, the side surfaces 62 b and 62 c are surfaces that exist on both sides with respect to the airflow that flows into the delivery container 62 through the forward conduit 52. Further, the exhaust holes 66p are provided so as to be unevenly distributed below the height to which the forward pipe 52 is connected. More specifically, the exhaust hole 66p is provided in a region below the central axis LU that passes through the center of the open region of the forward conduit 52. Therefore, the airflow that flows in through the forward conduit 52 flows downward in the delivery container 62 without stagnation or forming a vortex, and intersects the inflow direction to the delivery container 62. Induced to flow into. *

As shown in FIG. 7, the lower container constituting body 68 is a hollow member that constitutes a lower portion of the delivery container 62, and a dispensing opening for dispensing the medicine toward the medicine preparing section 80 is provided in the bottom 62 g. 62h is provided. Further, the lower container structure 68 is open at the top surface side portion connected to the upper container structure 66. Therefore, the lower container structure 68 is combined with the upper container structure 66 and integrated to form a hollow internal space 62f. *

In the lower container structure 68, a number of exhaust holes 68p are provided on the surfaces constituting the side surfaces 62b and 62c in the assembled state of the delivery container 62. That is, the exhaust holes 68p are provided on the surfaces (side surfaces 62b and 62c) that exist on both sides with respect to the airflow flowing into the delivery container 62 via the forward conduit 52, like the exhaust holes 66p described above. Yes. Further, the exhaust holes 68p are provided so as to be unevenly distributed downward in the lower container constituting body 68. More specifically, the exhaust hole 68p is provided below the reference plane LD passing through the position where the support shaft 76 of the shutter 64 is provided. Therefore, among the airflows that flow into the upper container structure 66 through the forward pipe 52, the airflow that flows downward and reaches the lower container structure 68 is further directed downward in the lower container structure 68. And is guided to flow in a direction crossing the inflow direction to the delivery container 62. Thereby, the medicine that has fallen to the lower container constituting body 68 side surely falls to the shutter 64 side. *

The shutter 64 opens and closes a payout opening 62h provided in the bottom 62g. As shown in FIG. 7, the delivery container 62 is provided at a position unevenly distributed on the lower container structure 68 side. The shutter 64 is a tapered plate formed so that the cross-sectional shape is a flat rhombus, and the thickness gradually decreases toward both ends. *

The shutter 64 is rotatable around a support shaft 76 in the delivery container 62. The support shaft 76 is a shaft body that is substantially perpendicular to the side surfaces 62 b and 62 c constituting the delivery container 62, and is connected to a driving device 74 provided outside the outer container 70 of the medicine dispensing unit 60. The drive device 74 includes a motor 74a and a power transmission mechanism 74b, and can transmit the rotational power generated by the motor 74a to the shutter 64 via the support shaft 76 to change the direction of the shutter 64. *

The shutter 64 can divide the internal space 62f of the delivery container 62 into upper and lower parts by making the tip portion abut on the side face 62a and the side face 62d of the delivery container 62. When the internal space 62f is vertically divided by the shutter 64, the delivery container 62 enters a state where the medicine cannot be dispensed from the dispensing opening 62h (hereinafter also referred to as a closed state). Moreover, the shutter 64 can be made into the state which connected the internal space 62f of the delivery container 62 up and down by rotating centering on the spindle 76. FIG. When the angle of the shutter 64 becomes steeper than in the closed state and the internal space 62f is in a state of communicating vertically, the delivery container 62 can dispense the medicine from the dispensing opening 62h (hereinafter also referred to as an open state). become. Therefore, the delivery container 62 can change the inclination of the shutter 64 by operating the drive device 74 and can switch between the closed state and the open state. *

As shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, the delivery container 62 described above is accommodated in a region surrounded by the outer container 70. The outer container 70 is a hollow box surrounded on four sides by four outer peripheral surfaces 70a to 70d. The exterior container 70 can clean and maintain the delivery container 62 by appropriately opening and closing a lid 70f provided on the top surface 70e. *

The outer peripheral surface 70a constituting the outer container 70 is pierced by the forward conduit 52 connected to the delivery container 62 accommodated therein. The outer

peripheral surfaces

70b and 70c are surfaces that intersect (substantially orthogonal in the present embodiment) with respect to the outer peripheral surface 70a, respectively, and the outer peripheral surface 70d is a surface that faces the outer peripheral surface 70a. As shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 8, the delivery container 62 described above is provided so as to be unevenly distributed in a corner portion formed by the outer

peripheral surfaces

70 b and 70 d in the region in the outer container 70. That is, the outer peripheral surfaces 70a to 70d are substantially parallel to the side surfaces 62a to 62d of the delivery container 62, respectively, but the intervals between the outer peripheral surfaces 70a to 70d and the side surfaces 62a to 62d are different. Specifically, the interval between the outer peripheral surface 70a and the side surface 62a is significantly larger than the interval between the outer peripheral surface 70d and the side surface 62d, and the outer peripheral surface 70d and the side surface 62d are arranged with almost no gap. Moreover, the space | interval of the outer peripheral surface 70b and the side surface 62b is smaller than the space | interval of the outer peripheral surface 70c and the side surface 62c. *

The outer container 70 has a discharge portion 70g for discharging the air flowing out from the

exhaust holes

66p, 68p of the delivery container 62 to the outside on the outer peripheral surface 70c. The discharge part 70g is unevenly distributed on the outer peripheral surface 70a side of the outer container 70. The discharge unit 70g is provided with a primary filter 70h and a finer secondary filter 70i. The primary filter 70h and the secondary filter 70i can be removed and cleaned or replaced. The coarse primary filter 70h is provided on the upstream side in the flow direction of the air discharged from the discharge portion 70g with respect to the fine secondary filter 70i. In the present embodiment, the primary filter 70 h is attached to a position inside the outer container 70 in the discharge portion 70 g, and the secondary filter 70 i is attached to a position outside the outer container 70. *

On the other hand, the medicine receiving portion 80 provided on the subunit 30 side is a portion having the most characteristic configuration in the present embodiment. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 9, and FIG. 10, the medicine receiving unit 80 is configured by a box having a medicine inlet 82 (inlet) opened on the top surface. The medicine inlet 82 is a portion that serves as an inlet for medicine that has been discharged from the sub-reservoir 32 and dropped through the hopper 36. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 9 to 11, the medicine receiving unit 80 is connected to and communicates with one end of the above-described forward conduit 52 and the blower tube 56 connected to the blower 54. The internal space of the medicine receiving unit 80 functions as a medicine conveyance path 84. In addition, the medicine receiving unit 80 includes a medicine input path 86 that is connected to the medicine transport path 84 from the medicine input port 82. *

The medicine conveyance path 84 is a path to which the outgoing pipe 52 and the blower pipe 56 are connected. As shown by an arrow in FIG. 11, by operating the blower 54, an air flow is generated toward the forward conduit 52. The medicine conveyance path 84 joins the medicine input path 86 in the middle. The drug conveyance path 84 is a diameter-enlarged portion in which the cross-sectional area of the drug is expanded on the downstream side of the junction M with the drug injection path 86, that is, on the side to which the forward pipe 52 is connected. 88. The enlarged diameter portion 88 is enlarged in the medicine receiving portion 80 toward the medicine input path 86 (upper side). In the present embodiment, the medicine conveyance path 84 has an inner diameter of the enlarged diameter portion 88 that is about 1.5 times that of the upstream portion 87. On the other hand, the medicine conveyance path 84 has a portion upstream of the junction M (hereinafter also referred to as an upstream portion 87) and a diameter-expanded portion 88 on the opposite side of the medicine injection path 86 (of the medicine receiving portion 80). It is flush with the bottom part. Therefore, the airflow flowing in the medicine conveyance path 84 flows smoothly toward the forward duct 52 without stagnation at the junction M or forming a vortex. *

As shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, the medicine input path 86 is a path that gently slopes downward from the medicine input port 82, and merges with the medicine transport path 84. Therefore, when the blower 54 is operated to generate an air flow in the medicine transport path 84, a suction force is generated in the medicine input path 86 from the drug input port 82 side toward the drug transport path 84 side. Therefore, when the medicine falls from above the medicine inlet 82, the medicine is sucked into the medicine conveyance path 84 and sent to the outgoing line 52.

Further, the medicine input path 86 is configured by a flow path having a funnel shape that connects from the drug input port 82 to the drug transport path 84. Therefore, the medicine injection path 86 can receive the medicine discharged from the sub-reservoir 32 at the medicine inlet 82 having a wide opening area, and can smoothly guide the medicine received in this way to the medicine conveyance path 84. Further, the medicine input path 86 is not vertical from the medicine input port 82 to the medicine transport path 84 but is gently inclined. Therefore, even if the suction force accompanying the operation of the blower 54 is applied, the medicine entered from the medicine inlet 82 side is not sucked into the medicine transport path 84 with excessive force, but is sucked at a moderately slow speed. It will be. *

Here, in this embodiment, an inlet member 90 as shown in FIG. 12 is attached to the medicine inlet 82 of the medicine receiving portion 80. The inlet member 90 is formed by molding a sheet-like resin material so as to have the same shape as the above-described drug charging path 86, and has flexibility. More specifically, the inlet member 90 includes a cylindrical portion 92 and a fixing portion 94. The tubular portion 92 is a tubular curved portion having an upper end open portion 92a on the upper end side and a lower end open portion 92b on the lower end side. The cylindrical portion 92 is a portion that is inserted into the medicine charging path 86. As shown in FIG. 9, the upper end open portion 92 a and the lower end open portion 92 b of the cylindrical portion 92 are in an eccentric positional relationship with each other, and thus have the same shape as the medicine injection path 86 described above. In addition, the inlet member 90 has a funnel-like shape as a whole because the size of the open region of the upper end open portion 92a is smaller than that of the open region of the lower end open portion 92b. *

As described above, since the upper end opening portion 92a and the lower end opening portion 92b are eccentric, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, when the inlet member 90 is viewed from above, an inner peripheral surface 92c forming the cylindrical portion 92 is formed. It is visible in the upper end opening part 92a. Therefore, when the medicine falls from above the upper end opening portion 92a, the medicine collides with the inner peripheral surface 92c. Further, ribs 96 (protruding portions) are formed on the inner peripheral surface 92c. The rib 96 protrudes so as to extend in a streak shape from the upper end side to the lower end side of the inlet member 90 on the inner peripheral surface 92c. The rib 96 extends in the eccentric direction between the upper end opening portion 92a and the lower end opening portion 92b. *

In this embodiment, the portion of the inlet member 90 excluding the rib 96 is formed of a resin material having excellent flexibility such as polyethylene terephthalate resin (PET resin), whereas the rib 96 is made of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer. It is made of a hard resin material such as resin (ABS resin). The rib 96 has antistatic properties. *

As shown in FIG. 12, the fixing portion 94 is a flange-like portion provided on the upper end side of the cylindrical portion 92 and is used for fixing the inlet member 90 to the medicine receiving portion 80. The fixing portion 94 is not provided over the entire periphery of the upper end opening portion 92a, but is provided only in a part of the circumferential direction. Therefore, when the inlet member 90 is fixed to the medicine receiving portion 80 using the fixing portion 94, the fixing portion 94 is fixed in a cantilevered state. In addition, since the inlet member 90 is formed by molding a sheet-like resin material, the fixed portion 94 also has a certain amount of bending. Therefore, when an impact is applied to the cylindrical portion 92 in the vertical direction in a state where the fixing portion 94 is fixed, the cylindrical portion 92 bends and swings. *

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the inlet member 90 described above is inserted from the top surface side of the medicine receiving portion 80 into the medicine inlet 82 along the cylindrical portion 92, and the fixing portion 94 is screwed or pinned. It is mounted by being fixed to the top surface of the medicine receiving unit 80. At this time, as shown in FIG. 11, a spacer 98 is sandwiched between the fixing portion 94 and the top surface of the medicine receiving portion 80. Therefore, the cylindrical portion 92 of the inlet member 90 is also lifted from the inner peripheral surface of the medicine charging path 86 by the amount of the spacer 98 interposed, and a gap 100 is formed between them. The gap 100 functions as a bending allowance for the inlet member 90 to be bent. *

Next, the operation of the medicine dispensing system 10 will be described focusing on the operation of the transfer means 50. The medicine dispensing system 10 is capable of packaging and dispensing medicines according to prescription one by one in the packaging unit 24 by cooperation of the main unit 20 and the subunit 30. Specifically, the medicine dispensing system 10 is configured to prescribe a medicine in the main storage section 22 provided on the main unit 20 side or a medicine in the sub storage section 32 provided on the subunit 30 side according to the prescription. The sachet is supplied to the medicine preparation unit 28 on the main unit 20 side, packaged by the packaging unit 24, and dispensed. *

More specifically, when the medicine to be dispensed is present in the main reservoir 22 according to the prescription, the corresponding medicine is dispensed from the main reservoir 22 one by one. The medicine discharged from the main storage part 22 is collected in a medicine waiting part 26 provided below. According to such a procedure, when medicines stored on the main unit 20 side and corresponding to one prescription are collected in the medicine standby unit 26, the medicines are moved from the medicine standby unit 26 to the hopper 27. Through the medicine preparation unit 28 below. *

On the other hand, when there is a medicine to be dispensed according to the prescription in the sub reservoir 32, each corresponding medicine is dispensed from the sub reservoir 32 one by one. The medicine discharged from the sub-reservoir 32 is collected in the sub-medicine standby part 34 below this. When the medicines to be prescribed from the medicines stored on the subunit 30 side are collected in the sub medicine waiting part 34 in this way, the medicines enter the medicine receiving part 80 of the transfer means 50 via the hopper 36. It is thrown in. *

Here, when the medicine falls through the hopper 36 as described above, the medicine first collides with the inlet member 90 attached to the medicine inlet 82 of the medicine receiving portion 80. As described above, since the gap 100 is formed between the inlet member 90 and the inner peripheral surface of the medicine injection path 86, the cylindrical portion 92 of the inlet member 90 bends when the medicine falls, Drop impact is alleviated. Further, the medicine that has dropped onto the inlet member 90 is guided by the rib 96 provided on the inner peripheral surface 92c of the cylindrical portion 92, and smoothly guided toward the lower end opening 92 side (the medicine transport path 84 side). Is done. Further, the presence of the rib 96 prevents the medicine that has fallen on the inner peripheral surface 92c of the inlet member 90 from turning on the inner peripheral surface 92c. In addition to this, when the blower 54 is operated, a constant suction force acts in a direction from the upper end opening portion 92a side of the inlet member 90 toward the lower end opening portion 92b side. Due to these effects, the medicine that has fallen toward the inlet member 90 attached to the medicine insertion port 82 of the medicine receiving portion 80 smoothly transports the medicine through the medicine introduction path 86 without being greatly bounced or swung. It is supplied into the path 84. *

When the medicine dispensed from the sub-reservoir 32 as described above is supplied to the medicine conveyance path 84 formed in the medicine receiving section 80, the medicine is generated by the airflow generated by the operation of the blower 54. Under the influence, the inside of the outgoing pipeline 52 flows toward the medicine dispensing unit 60 provided on the main unit 20 side. At this time, as shown in FIG. 7, in the medicine dispensing unit 60 on the main unit 20 side, the shutter 64 provided in the delivery container 62 is closed. *

When the medicine dispensed on the subunit 30 side reaches the medicine dispensing unit 60, it flows into the delivery container 62. At this time, if the airflow is strong with respect to the weight and amount of the medicine, the medicine falls on the internal space 62f of the delivery container 62 after hitting the buffer means 63, but if the airflow is not so strong, it does not hit the buffer means 63. The internal space 62f is dropped. Further, the airflow flowing into the delivery container 62 through the forward pipe 52 flows downward in the internal space 62f, and then, as shown by arrows in FIG. 8, exhaust holes 66p provided in the side surfaces 62b and 62c. , 68p. Therefore, the medicine transferred into the delivery container 62 falls smoothly without dancing in the air current. The medicine dropped in the delivery container 62 falls on the shutter 64 which is in a closed state. *

When the medicine sent from the subunit 30 side as described above has fallen onto the shutter 64, the shutter 64 is switched to the open state. At this time, the medicine falls along the surface of the shutter 64 where the inclination gradually becomes steeper, and is eventually dispensed from the dispensing opening 62 h provided in the bottom 62 g of the delivery container 62. The medicine dispensed from the dispensing opening 62h is put into a medicine preparation section 80 provided below the medicine dispensing section 60 in preparation for later packaging in the medicine packaging section 21 provided on the main unit 20 side. . Thereafter, the medicines prepared in the medicine preparation unit 80 are sequentially packaged in the medicine packaging unit 21. *

When the transfer means 50 is employed, in addition to the operation of transferring the medicine from the subunit 30 side to the main unit 20 side for packaging as described above, the transfer means 50 is made using the air flow generated by operating the blower 54. It is also possible to clean the inside of the medicine conveyance path. Specifically, when cleaning the inside of the medicine conveyance path of the transfer means 50, the blower 54 is operated with the shutter 64 closed. At this time, the output of the blower 54 is set higher than when the medicine is transported. Thereby, the dust remaining in the medicine conveyance path of the transfer means 50 is wiped out and discharged from the

exhaust holes

66p, 68p of the delivery container 62. The dust discharged from the

exhaust holes

66p and 68p is captured by the primary filter 70h and the secondary filter 70i provided in the discharge part 70g of the outer container 70. *

As described above, the transfer means 50 employed in the present embodiment is discharged from the sub reservoir 32 side by providing the flexible inlet member 90 at the drug inlet 82 of the drug receiver 80. The drop impact of the falling medicine is received by the inlet member 90 and can be reduced. Therefore, in the medicine dispensing system 10, the medicine discharged from the sub-reservoir 32 is smoothly introduced into the medicine receiving unit 80 without greatly jumping, and thereafter the process until it is sent to the main unit 20 side. It is possible to proceed smoothly. Therefore, in the medicine dispensing system 10, it is possible to quickly transport the medicine from the subunit 30 side to the main unit 20 side. *

In addition, as described above, by making the inlet member 90 flexible, the degree of splash of the medicine that has fallen toward the inlet member 90 is amplified, resulting in variation in the degree of splash. Can be prevented. Therefore, the period of time until the splash of the medicine that has fallen toward the medicine receiving unit 80 on the subunit 30 side is settled and becomes a transferable state is determined according to the kind of medicine or the kind of medicine that is given for each kind of medicine. It is possible to predict based on a coefficient (bounce coefficient) that is an index of the degree of splash, the position where the medicine falls, the height of the medicine, and the like, and based on this prediction, the medicine can be smoothly transferred toward the main unit. . Therefore, if the inlet member 90 as described above is provided, it is possible to stabilize the processing capacity of the medicine dispensing system 10. *

As described above, when the medicine injection path 86 has a funnel shape, the medicine discharged from the sub-storage part 32 can be received with a wide opening area and smoothly guided to the internal space of the medicine receiving part 80. It is possible to further reduce the time required for transferring the medicine. *

Further, the inlet member 90 described above has a configuration in which a rib 96 (protruding portion) protruding inwardly is provided on the inner peripheral surface 92c. Therefore, even if the medicine that has fallen toward the inlet member 90 tries to swivel along the inner peripheral surface 92c of the inlet member 90, it cannot hit the rib 96, and as a result, is guided by the rib 96. It will drop toward 92b and be collected smoothly. In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the rib 96 is provided has been illustrated. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and there is no problem due to the above-described swirling of the medicine, or even without considering such a problem. In other cases, the rib 96 may not be provided. With this configuration, the inlet member 90 can be made to have a simpler shape. *

Moreover, although the rib 96 mentioned above was comprised by the protrusion part extended straight in a generatrix direction in the cylindrical part 92 of the inlet member 90, this invention is not limited to this, The thing of other various forms Can also be substituted. Specifically, instead of providing the ribs 96, protrusions shorter or smaller than the ribs 96 may be arranged side by side in the generatrix direction. Also in the case of such a configuration, the same effect as that obtained when the rib 96 is provided can be obtained. Moreover, the rib 96 does not necessarily extend toward the generatrix direction of the cylindrical portion 92 as described above, and can be appropriately changed in consideration of other factors. *

Further, the inlet member 90 employed in the above-described embodiment has a positional relationship in which the lower end opening portion 92b and the upper end opening portion 92a are eccentric in a predetermined eccentric direction, and the rib 96 is also formed to extend in the eccentric direction. ing. In the case of such a configuration, it is assumed that the medicine flows in the eccentric direction. However, in the inlet member 90 according to the embodiment, the rib 96 is arranged so as to follow the flow of the medicine. Therefore, the trouble that the flow of the medicine is obstructed by the rib 96 or the medicine is clogged due to the presence of the rib 96 does not occur.

The above-described medicine dispensing system 10 is one in which one subunit 30 provided with the transfer device 50 is added to the main unit 20, but the present invention is not limited to this, and more A sub unit 30 may be added. *

In the above embodiment, the medicine introduced into the medicine transporting path 84 formed in the medicine receiving section 80 through the medicine feeding path 86 by the air flow generated by the transfer means 50 operating the blower 54 is the outgoing line 52. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the transfer may be performed by applying a suction force to the forward conduit 52 and suctioning the medicine to the main unit 20 side. Good. In addition, the transfer means 50 is not limited to transferring the medicine by being pumped or sucked through the forward conduit 52, but may be transferred by other transfer modes.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Drug delivery system 20 Main unit 22 Main storage part 24 Packaging part 30 Sub unit 32 Sub storage part 50 Transfer means 82 Drug inlet (inlet)
86 medicine injection path 90 inlet member 92 cylindrical part 92a upper end opening part 92b lower end opening part 92c inner peripheral surface 96 rib (protrusion part)
100 gap

Claims

Having a drug receiving section and a conduit connected to the drug receiving section;
The medicine introduced into the medicine receiving part can be transferred through the conduit,
A flexible inlet member is provided at the inlet of the medicine receiving part,
In the medicine receiving part, a funnel-shaped medicine input path is formed,
The inlet member is attached so as to cover the medicine input path,
A gap is formed between the inlet member and the surface that forms the medicine input path,
The transporting means characterized in that after the discharged and dropped medicine collides with the inlet member, it is introduced into the medicine receiving section.
The transfer means according to claim 1, wherein the drug introduced into the drug receiving section can be transferred through the pipe line by suction or pressure feeding.
The inlet member has an upper end opening portion provided on the upper end side and a lower end opening portion provided on the lower end side, and a member whose internal region is reduced from the upper end opening portion side toward the lower end opening portion side. And
The transfer means according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a protruding portion that protrudes toward the inside of the inlet member is provided on an inner peripheral surface of the inlet member.
4. The transfer means according to claim 3, wherein the projecting portion is constituted by a rib extending from the upper end side opening portion side toward the lower end side opening portion side.
A packaging part capable of packaging a medicine, a transfer means according to any one of claims 1 to 4, and a storage part capable of discharging a medicine stored in advance toward the packaging part in accordance with a prescription. The medicine discharged from the storage section and dropped is introduced into the medicine receiving section after colliding with an inlet member provided at the entrance of the medicine receiving section constituting the transfer means. Dispensing system.
A drug dispensing system comprising a main unit and one or a plurality of subunits, wherein the main unit and the subunits are connected by the transfer means according to any one of claims 1 to 4. And
The main unit has a packaging part capable of packaging medicine, and a storage part capable of discharging the medicine stored in advance toward the packaging part in accordance with the prescription,
The subunit has a sub-reservoir that can discharge the medicine stored in advance toward the transfer means in accordance with the prescription,
The medicine discharged from the sub-storage part is dropped into the medicine receiving part after colliding with an inlet member provided at the entrance of the medicine receiving part constituting the transfer means. system.
A main unit capable of discharging a prestored medicine in accordance with the prescription and one or a plurality of subunits capable of discharging a prestored medicine in accordance with the prescription; A medicine dispensing device for a subunit for constructing a medicine dispensing system for transferring and packaging discharged medicine to the main unit side,
5. A drug dispensing apparatus comprising the transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the drug discharged from the sub-reservoir and dropped can be transferred toward the main unit.